Shiels



Edited *5mm @met @Wire JOHN 4DONALDSON, GEORGE REAVELIC-AND JAMES FRANCIS, OF GALA SHIELS, SCOTLAND. i

Latas Patent No. 98,358, dated December 28, 1869.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whont'it may concern Be it known that we, J O'nN DONALDSON, GEORGE REAvELY, and J AMES FRANCIS, of Galashiels, Roxburgshire, Scotland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Choke-Blocks for Railroads; and we l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description thereof', which will enable othersy skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification;

This invent-ion relates to, a new and useful improveparts.

This invention is designed to prevent railroad-cars which are placed on switches or side tracks, from moving or heilig moved on to'the main track before they are wanted. For this purpose, we place chokeblocks on the track rails, which 'remain on the rails until the wheel of a locomotiveor of a car operates the mechanism with which the blocks are'connected, and removes them.

A A represent the rail ofthe side track.

B B represent the ties.

O C" are the choke-blocks.

D is the choke-block rail, which is pivoted to the sleeper or tie B'.

This rail D has a lateral movement imparted by a weight and chain, E F, when the blocks are to be removed from or ou to the rail.

The adjustment is such that the weight E, by means of the chain, draws constantly upon the rail B, the tendency of which is to remove the blocks.

The blocks are connected together by means of the sway-bar G and the connecting-bars H I-I.

When the rail D is moved in the direction of the arrow, the effect is to remove both blocks from the rails A. The chain E is attached to the pulley I, .which is providedY with a series of holes, in' which there may be a weighted lever, to render the choking-device selfsetting, if desired.

The choke-rail I) is held in position, when the blocks are in place on the rails, as seen in thedraw ing, by means of the catch-bar J, which is attached to the bar D at one end. The other end passes through the guide-piece K.

L is a catch-lever, whose fulcrum is on the stand l M. This lever. is attached to the key-bar N, whose upper end, O, rises above the rail, and 'receives the flange of the car-wheel.

The pressure of the car-wheel .depresses the end P, of the lever L, and' throws its other end, Q, which is bent at right angles, up from a shoulder in the catch-bar J This allows .the rail D and -the blocks to be, acted upon by the Weight E.

'R is a pulley, overwhich the chain F passes This allows the locomotive or car to go on to the switohor side track for any required purpose:

After the cars' are placed thereon, the bar, J is shovedinward, which again places the choke-blocksv on the rail, and prevents the return ofthe cars.

The key-bar is forced upward by a spiral spring, S,

with a force which will only yield to the heavy press` ure of a car-wheel, so that theA choke-blocks cannot be removed by the strength ot'one'man.

Accidents not unfrequcntly occur from the starting of freight or other cars from side tracks, either accidentally or designedly. By this' arrangement, the cars are securely blocked or choked on the track, and must rem'ain there until a locomotive Or car enters for them.

Having thus described our invention,

We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. vIn combination with the rails of a railroe -slwitch or siding, the choke-blocks C O', so arranged and. connected that they are automatically removed from the track by the pressure.- of the the car 0I' locomotive-wheel, substantially as described.

2. The arrangement of the rail D, sway-bar G, with its connections, the bar J, lever L, and the key-bar 1 N, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

The above specification of our invention, signed by us, this 21st day of August, 1869.

JOHN DONALDSON. GEORGE REAVELY.

JAMES FRANCIS.

c. Witnesses COLIN JAMES, Stalker, Galcshiels. WM. BUcHAN, Galashiels. 

